UConn Football: Moore too much for UConn

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Local hero Kenny Moore used to sit high in the upper bowl of Bank of America Stadium and dream about what it would be like to play on such a big field.

Joe Perez

Local hero Kenny Moore used to sit high in the upper bowl of Bank of America Stadium and dream about what it would be like to play on such a big field.

Saturday, Moore didn’t have to imagine any longer. The Charlotte native and Wake Forest wide receiver caught 11 passes for 112 yards, returned four punts for 26 yards, two kickoffs for 33 yards and three carries for minus-two yards en route to being named the Meineke Car Care Bowl Most Valuable Player.

“My first game (at the stadium) was a Monday night game and I was sitting way on the top looking down on the field. I always imagined what it would be like to play down on that field,” he said. “(Saturday) was that day and I wanted to capitalize on that.”

Moore’s day was filed with more than just trophies and a bowl win. He set the Atlantic Coast Conference record with 98 catches, smashing for North Carolina State star and current St. Louis Rams receiver Tory Holt’s 1998 mark of 88 catches. He also established a new Wake Forest mark for all-purpose yards with 1,854. His 11 receptions in the game are now the highest ever in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. Finally, he exceeded 1,000 yards receiving for the season.

Not a bad way to go out in his final collegiate game.

“We are really going to miss this guy,” Wake Forest Coach Jim Grobe said. “This is a guy who fought through some early injuries in his career. He is as good of a player as I have ever coached. He is not only a great football player, he’s a great guy.”

Surprising career

Huskies right guard Donald Thomas shouldn’t have been playing in Saturday’s game. In fact, he shouldn’t have been playing football at all. But when teammate Danny Lansanah saw him playing basketball, he convinced Thomas to give football a try.

It turns out to have been a wise move, one that appears ready to pay dividends for Thomas. While he’s already received his degree, Thomas is expected to garner serious attention from National Football League teams, some of which are projecting Thomas as one of the best at his position for April’s draft.

“It’s been a great ride for me; from playing special teams my first three years, a little bit of guard in my third year and then to come into this year and start all 13 games. It’s been great.” he said. “I didn’t know I could play football the way I could. I knew I was string enough to compete with the competition out there. I just didn’t know if I had the ability to and I think I realized pretty quick in the season that I was able to do it and was able to do it pretty good.

“I guess football was my calling. I just didn’t do it when I was younger. It’s been incredible. I can’t put it into words.”

Notes

UConn holding Wake Forest to no points in the first half marked the first time since Sept. 9, 2006 against Duke that the Demon Deacons had been shut out in the first half. … Punter Desi Cullen had a punt for 50 yards. … UConn senior cornerback Tyvon Branch had a game-high 10 tackles in his final game. … Alex Polito had four tackles, three for a loss. … By UConn not scoring an offensive touchdown, it was the first time that had been done by Wake Forest since Dec. 2, 2006 against Georgia Tech. …Donald Brown’s 58-yard run in the second quarter was the second-longest against the Demon Deacons this season. … Statistical leaders for the Huskies: Passing (Tyler Lorenzen, 2269 yards), Rushing (Andre Dixon, 828 yards -- seven more than Brown), Receiving (Terence Jeffers, 588 yards), Scoring (Tony Ciaravino, 100 points) and Tackles (Lansanah, 121).